Instituto Libio
Instituto Líbio was founded with the mission to protect wildlife, preserve biodiversity, and restore threatened ecosystems.
We operate across four of Brazil’s richest and most vulnerable biomes — the Amazon Rainforest, Atlantic Forest, Cerrado, and Pantanal — managing nearly 40,000 hectares of private natural reserves integrated with public Conservation Units.
We develop structured programs for the rescue and rehabilitation of wild animals affected by trafficking and abuse, promote ecological restoration, implement agroforestry systems, prevent environmental degradation, and safeguard essential ecosystem services such as water, soil, climate, and life.
Instituto Líbio is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 15:
Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss.
Mission
To protect Brazil’s native wildlife through responsible management, rescue, rehabilitation, and release into the wild, combined with environmental education to prevent trafficking and illegal hunting.
We also protect natural habitats and restore degraded ecosystems.
Vision
To create positive environmental and cultural impact, promoting respect, dignity, and protection for wildlife, so that animals and humans can live in harmony with nature.
Values
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Respect for animals: every being is an individual deserving of dignity — every life matters.
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Balance: maintaining harmony between vision and practicality to achieve real change.
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Transparency: fostering clear, direct communication to build trust and long-term relationships.
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Efficient use of resources: using resources responsibly to maximize impact.
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Continuous learning: pursuing knowledge and innovation to protect biodiversity.
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Sharing knowledge: using education as a tool for transformation toward a fairer, more sustainable world.
Founder
Raquel Machado, originally from Minas Gerais, is a dermatologist and a lifelong animal and nature lover. During her childhood, she maintained a deep bond with nature, which she sought to rekindle after moving to São Paulo and becoming a mother.
While searching for a property close to nature, she found a riverside area on the Tietê River in Porto Feliz, São Paulo, where she encountered an abandoned parrot. Outraged by its condition, she reached out to environmental authorities and discovered the harsh reality of Brazil’s wildlife trafficking crisis.
In 2010, with authorization from Ibama, she founded a Wildlife Maintenance Center.
After a decade of dedicated work, she established the Instituto Raquel Machado (2020), which later evolved into Instituto Líbio (2023) — a name that merges LIberty and BIOdiversity, and honors her grandfather, a defender of the Amazon and nature since the 1940s.
Board of Directors
Irlau Machado Filho
Irlau Machado Filho holds degrees in Business Administration, Economics, and Political Science from Augustana College (USA).
He built a distinguished career in the financial sector, serving as Vice President at Citibank for Latin America and Vice President at Grupo Santander.
In the healthcare sector, he was President of Medial Saúde and CEO of A.C. Camargo Cancer Center.
In 2014, following the acquisition of Grupo NotreDame Intermédica by the U.S. investment firm Bain Capital, he was invited to assume the role of President and CEO of the group.
Irlau Machado Filho
Patrícia Levi
Patrícia Levi holds a degree in Architecture and Urbanism from Mackenzie University.
She founded her own construction company, where she served as managing partner for 18 years. In 2018, she transitioned into the field of asset management, working within a family office. In parallel, she opened an event venue in the countryside of São Paulo, designed with a focus on sustainability.
Currently, she is active in the nonprofit sector, contributing to several initiatives and volunteering with renowned institutions. In 2023, she earned her MBA in Socio-Environmental Business Management from Instituto IPÊ.
Patricia Levi
Marcos Assumpção Pacheco de Medeiros
Marcos Medeiros has built a career marked by leadership roles and the development of new markets and companies, as well as the implementation of Greenfield projects. His experience spans across multiple areas, including Administration, Commercial Strategy, Finance, Budgeting, Investments, Logistics, Procurement, Operations, Contracts, Technical Management, and PPP Bidding within private companies in the construction sector.
He currently serves as Executive Director at GPA – Gestores Prisionais Associados.
Marcos Assumpção Pacheco de Medeiros
Deborah Fanhoni Ferreira
Deborah is a lawyer specialized in Administrative, Regulatory, Environmental, Contract, and Corporate Law.
She is currently a partner at Fanhoni e Krongold Advogados, where she works on public tenders across Brazil and Latin America, focusing on preventive legal monitoring and compliance in the execution of administrative contracts. Her expertise also includes structuring partnerships between companies, consortia, Special Purpose Entities (SPEs), and Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) for participation in public bids and agreements with the public sector.
Deborah Fanhoni Ferreira
Beatriz Trevisan
Beatriz is a practicing attorney with a postgraduate degree in International Trade Law and Finance from Milan, Italy.
Deeply committed to environmental issues, animal rights, and the protection of small farmers in Brazil, she travels the world seeking hands-on experiences related to self-sufficient agroforestry systems — models that integrate food production with animal welfare, soil preservation, and fair compensation for farmers.
A student of non-conventional organic agriculture, Beatriz applies her legal expertise to agrosilvopastoral systems that combine trees, crops, and livestock. Her approach challenges the traditional agricultural focus solely on productivity, emphasizing the often-overlooked impacts on wild flora and fauna.
She actively engages in projects dedicated to conservation, environmental preservation, and the regeneration of degraded soils, aligning her professional work with her ecological and ethical values.
Beatriz Trevisan
Angela Kuczach
Ângela Kuczach is a biologist graduated from the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR) and currently serves as the Executive Director of the Rede Pró UC. She is also a member of the Council of the League of Women for the Oceans and was recognized by Época Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in Brazil.
An environmental leader and activist, Ângela is the creator of the campaign “Um Dia no Parque” (A Day in the Park) — an initiative developed in partnership with the Coalizão Pró UC, which has become the largest mobilization event ever held for Brazil’s protected areas.
Her work focuses on the defense and strengthening of conservation units, connecting communities, institutions, and decision-makers around a common goal: ensuring that nature remains a living legacy for future generations.
Angela Kuczach
Irina Arango
Irina Arango é lawyer graduated from Universidad de Los Andes (Bogotá, Colombia), with a specialization in ESG and Sustainable Economics from Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV).
She has extensive experience in corporate and regulatory matters, having worked in multinational companies across various sectors. Her career combines a strategic legal perspective with a commitment to sustainable and responsible governance practices, contributing to the integration of environmental and social values into business decisions.
Irina Arango
Chris Mesquita
Experienced Superintendent with a proven track record in the banking industry. Skilled in negotiation, business planning, banking operations, credit analysis, and credit cards.
A solid professional guided by the YBA approach — Yield (results), Believe (belief), and Act (action). Holds a Post-Executive MBA from Fundação Dom Cabral (Brazil).